CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I.The Location and Arrangement of the Garden[3]
II.Soils[17]
III.Fertilisers[23]
IV.The Hotbed, Cold-Frame and Sand-Box[30]
V.Purchasing of Seeds[41]
VI.Starting Seeds in Flats[48]
VII.Transplanting and Repotting[53]
VIII.House-Plants from Seeds[62]
IX.Outside Window-Boxes[88]
X.Various Annuals from Seed[98]
XI.Vines[128]
XII.Ornamental Foliage Plants from Seed[141]
XIII.Bulbous and Tuberous-Rooted Plants[147]
XIV.Aquatics[165]
XV.The Care of the Summer Rose-Bed[173]
XVI.The Hardy Lily-Bed[179]
XVII.The Care of Cannas, Caladiums, Dahlias, and Other Bulbs During Winter[185]
XVIII.Hardy Shrubs and Plants for Fall Planting[196]
XIX.Winter Protection[203]
XX.The Care of House-Plants in Winter[208]
XXI.Common and English Names of Flowers[217]
XXII.Blooming Season of Various Trees, Shrubs, and Plants[234]
XXIII.A Chapter of Odds and Ends[245]
XXIV.A Chapter of Don’ts[253]
INDEX [259]

ILLUSTRATIONS

Sweet Alyssum and Golden Saxatile are Desirable for Rockwork[Frontispiece]
FACING PAGE
Ornamental Grasses and Foliage Plants[8]
Manure Water is a good Way to apply Animal Fertiliser[26]
When Plants Appear too Thickly in Rows, Transplant[32]
A Well constructed Hotbed[32]
Starting Seeds in Flats[50]
Sifting Loam through a Sieve[56]
Repotting[60]
When Two or Three Inches High—Transplant Carnations into Pots[72]
An Easily made Carnation Support[72]
Injured or Faded Leaves should be Removed at once[86]
Outside Window-boxes[90]
Boxes in which Scythes are Packed make very good Window-boxes[94]
Hanging-baskets for Windows[94]
Small Water Gardens[104]
Cool, Moist Spots between Stones[108]
Dusting with Sulphur[114]
Spraying with Bordeaux Mixture[114]
Sow Poppies in the Perennial Border among the late Flowering Plants[116]
A Dead Tree Draped with Vines[132]
Furnish Support for Vines to Run on[134]
Vine-covered Shed[134]
Clematis Paniculata Blooms when most Others have Ceased[138]
Shift into larger Pots as Required[144]
Should Bulb Outgrow its Quarters Shift into Pot two Sizes larger[160]
Wild Water Flowers for Edging Lily-pond[166]
Water-lilies with Background of Bamboo and Native Grasses[168]
A Full blown Cat-tail[170]
Native Plants Edging a Natural Water Garden[172]
Training a Climbing Rose[176]
A Rose covered Building[178]
A Portion of the Grounds Protected by Shrubbery is the Place for the Lily-bed[182]
Turn out Ball of Earth to Ascertain if Pot is filled with Roots[192]
A Good Background for Low Shrubs[200]
Plants for Late Winter Blooming should be brought into the House before Fall[210]
Fences may be Made Attractive with Vines or Plants[250]

PLATES

FACING PAGE
I.Height and Season of Bloom of the Different Perennials[10]
II.Plan for a Hardy Border[12]
III.Plan for Rose-garden and Foliage-bed[14]

THE FLOWER GARDEN

Chapter ONE
The Location and Arrangement of the Garden

A south slope is the ideal situation for a garden, since it insures good drainage and the greatest amount of sunlight. The garden should also be open to the east and west, if possible; that it may have the benefit of the morning and evening sun. Shelter on the north is desirable, as north winds are disastrous to Roses and tender perennials. Partial shelter on the west should be given in localities where the prevailing winds of winter are from that quarter.

The south side of a building, or even of a high fence, with trees and tall shrubs at a little distance to the west, is best; though any site that receives abundant sunshine through the morning and early afternoon may be made satisfactory by planting trees and shrubs on the north and west.